The new owner was promising a  re-do and update of the shabby sheik interior but it just hasn't happened. Sure, the new owner's took down a lot of the gaudy Rooster knick-knacks but enough remains. The small bar and 5 booths still remain which make a small place even more claustrophobic.  

In light of this info, we'll report on the basics and lament about what might have been...

The rustic sign of a Rooster and a canopy that appears to have seen the ravages of Philly pollution marks the spot of the Happy Rooster at 16th and Sansom Streets. I've seen The Rooster many, many times during my journeys, but since it lacks clear windows it was hard to assess the vibe of the place. I also never saw anyone going in or coming out of the place; which makes it difficult discerning the age group serviced here. 

Well to begin, The Rooster is very "old school." Where once stood a  bartender sporting a white suit with a black tie (ala Bogart in Casablanca) now stands a leggy brunette serving up libations. The Rooster still can only accommodate about 10 people at the bar and there are only 5 booths. We though on the re-do of the place that the booths would be removed, replaced by high tables and the place would be made a full fledged bar. It also wouldn't be hard to imagine the front tables removed and the entire wall opened up with door that could open up in the warmer weather. But we digress...

The Happy Rooster carries a variety of top shelf liquor. Some of the top shelf selections will set you back $200/glass (single malt scotch whiskey). But not to worry, there are more affordably priced mixed drinks that will run you only a few sheckels. It's sad to report that the Rooster doesn't have any beers on tap, oh well.  Only bottle brews are available. Their selection includes: Bass, Guinness (in bottles - yikes!), Heineken and a few other choices.

Decorating the Happy Rooster's walls are a fair amount of "rooster" bric-a-brac. They've got pictures of roosters, paintings of roosters, rooster figurines, and anything else that you can imagine that pertains to roosters. In addition, there are a few old menu's thrown up on the wall for good measure, just to remind the clientele how things were better "back in the day."

Each booth and practically every bar stool bares the names of Happy Rooster regulars (engraved in brass no less). Sorry, but according to the barkeep, you have to put in 20 years or more of patronage to be placed among this elite group.

The Rooster has been in Philly for generations and as a result you are likely to see a mixed crowd ranging from Twentysomethings to Sixtysomethings! - Now there's diversity.  For instance, on the particular night that my party of four visited, there was us 20somethings, a foursome of 30somethings at the bar, and way down at the end of the bar were a few 50 and 60 year olds. 

The Rooster is not afraid of it's clientele whipping out a few stogies and puffing away as long as the kitchen is open. Yeah this is contrary to all logic, but we don't make the rules. We did notice that the air filter/circulation system seemed to discharge itself in the vestibule by the front doors keeping dining patron as smoke free as possible.

Within a block of The Happy Rooster are a few other nice bars/pubs: Nodding Head, Chris' Jazz Cafe, Mahogany and the Samson Street Oyster House.